People v Paul Booker

On June 22, 2015, a jury found defendant Paul Booker guilty of second degree murder with an enhancement for the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing death.

On July 9, 2013, defendant Booker was socializing with a group of friends on the front lawn at a home on 88th Ave in Oakland. Victim Steven Cotton walked by the home and noticed defendant Booker, with whom he had a previous issue.

Cotton approached defendant Booker and set upon him. Defendant Booker eventually escaped Cotton's grasp and went to a friend's nearby car to retrieve a .40 caliber firearm. Cotton picked up a cinderblock, and he and defendant Booker continued to argue with each other. Cotton prepared to throw the cinderblock at the defendant and defendant Booker fired 7 shots, hitting Cotton 3 times - once in the lower back, upper back and face. Victim Cotton died immediately.

Following the shooting, defendant Booker fled in a friend's car. Approximately 30 minutes after the murder, defendant Booker was arrested by an unsuspecting officer for an unrelated felony warrant. In a post-mortem examination, defendant Booker's DNA was found underneath Cotton's fingernails.

On October 2, 2015, Defendant Paul Booker was sentenced to the maximum term of 62 years 8 months to life in prison for this crime. The case was prosecuted by DDA Gregory O'Connell with assistance from DA Inspector James Rullamas.